Socket including a housing and a plurality of contacts

This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-158377, filed on Sep. 28, 2021.

The present invention relates to a socket, to which an electronic component including a bottom face, on which contact pads are two-dimensionally arranged, is attached.

Electronic components such as CPUs (central processing units) are often mounted via interposer-type sockets, rather than directly soldered to circuit boards, when the electronic components are mounted on the circuit boards. In other words, the sockets are often placed on the circuit boards, and the electronic components are often attached to the sockets. A plurality of contacts that come into contact with respective contact pads arranged on the bottom face of such an electronic component are arranged on such a socket so that the contacts protrude from a first face of a flat-plate-shaped housing.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-018960A discloses an interposer for the purpose of improving electrical characteristics. The interposer disclosed in JP 2021-018960A has a shape in which contacts are inserted into a plurality of respective through-holes opened in a flat-plate-shaped housing and protrude through both the first and second faces of the flat-plate-shaped housing.

In recent years, a socket including quite a number of pins, in which the number of contacts is, for example, ten thousand or the like, to be ready for large-scale electronic components has been demanded. With regard to performance, the higher performance of the socket has been demanded. Moreover, the socket desirably has a design in which a common housing and common contacts can be used even for electronic components with different specifications, which can be mounted on the socket, without newly redesigning the housing and the contacts.

A socket includes a housing and a plurality of contacts. The housing has a bottom plate with a first face and a second face that are parallel to each other. Contact supporting holes penetrate the first face and the second face. The housing has a frame body disposed upright on an edge of the first face and extending along the edge. The contacts are disposed in the contact supporting holes and supported by the bottom plate in a state in which the contacts protrude from both the first face and the second face. The contacts include a first contact having a first base inserted into one of the contact supporting holes, a first contact portion having a pair of first protrusions protruding from one edge of the first base, and a second contact portion having a pair of second protrusions protruding from another edge of the first base.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below. Various elements in the drawings are merely schematically and illustratively shown for understanding of the present disclosure and may differ in outward appearance and/or dimensional ratio from actual ones. Furthermore, the following description uses, on an as-needed basis, terms that indicate particular directions or positions. However, the use of these terms is intended to facilitate understanding of the invention with reference to the drawings, and the meanings of these terms are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present disclosure. Further, components given identical reference signs throughout a plurality of drawings refer to identical or equivalent components.

A socketaccording to an embodiment is shown in. This socketincludes a housingand a number of contacts. The housingincludes a bottom plateand a frame portion. The bottom plateis a flat-plate-shaped portion including a first faceand a second faceas the back face of the first face, which are parallel to each other, in the housing. A number of contact supporting holes(see) penetrating the first faceand the second faceare arranged in the bottom plate.

The frame portionis disposed upright on the edgeof the first face, and extends along the edge. An electronic component(see) is mounted on an area closer to the first faceof the bottom plate. The frame portionserves for locating the in-plane direction of the first facein the case of mounting the electronic component.

illustrates several contact supporting holes. However, the contact supporting holessimilar to such contact supporting holesare formed on the substantially entire face of the bottom plate, except in the immediate vicinities of the frame portion. As illustrated in, the contactsare inserted into the respective contact supporting holeson a one-by-one basis, interlock with the inner walls of the respective contact supporting holes, and are supported by the bottom plate. The length of each of the contactsin the thickness direction of the bottom plateis greater than thickness of the bottom plate, and the contactsare in the state of being inserted into the respective contact supporting holesand protruding from both the first faceand the second face. In, all the contactscannot be illustrated for clarity, and therefore, a small minority of the contactsare illustrated.

The socketis placed on a circuit board(see), and carries out electrical connection between the electronic componentand the circuit boardmounted on the socket.

Three kinds of contacts having shapes different from each other are adopted in the socketof the present embodiment. Each of two of the kinds is a single contact, and the remaining kind includes two contacts included in a contact pair. In, the contacts are typically referred to as the contacts. Hereinafter, the contacts that are separately denoted by reference numerals according to the kinds of the contacts are described in turn.

show a common contact. A pad for a ground, a pad for a power source, and a pad for signal transmission are arranged on the bottom face of the electronic componentmounted on the socket. The common contactis a contact that connects the pad for a ground among the pads and a ground on the circuit boardto each other.

As shown in, the common contactincludes a first base, a first contact portion, and a second contact portion. The reason that the base is not referred merely as a base but is referred to as the first baseis because the base is distinguished from the bases of the other kinds of contacts described later. The first contact portionand the second contact portionare intended to distinguish between the contact portion closer to the electronic componentand the contact portion closer to the circuit board, and to be further distinguished from the contact portions of the other kinds of the contacts. The common contactcorresponds to an example of the first contact described in the present invention.

The first baseis inserted into each of the contact supporting holesand interlocks with the inner wall of each of the contact supporting holesto allow the common contactto be supported by the housing. The first baseincludes cut portionsseparated from a carrier. When the common contactis inserted into each of the contact supporting holes, the common contactis separated from the carrier in a state in which both the right and left sides of the first baseare retained by a jig, and inserted into each of the contact supporting holesby pressing both the right and left sides of the first basewith the jig.

The first contact portioncontacts the pad for a ground of the electronic component. As shown in, the first contact portionincludes: a pair of two-divided first protrusionsprotruding from an edge, closer to the first face(see), of the first basetoward the first faceobliquely with respect to the first base; and a first linking portionthat links the pair of first protrusionsto each other in a protruding side. The first contact portionhas a spring property, and is elastically deformed by being pressed by the electronic component.

The second contact portioncontacts a ground on the circuit board. As shown in, the second contact portionincludes: a pair of two-divided second protrusionsprotruding from an edge, closer to the second face(see), of the first basetoward the second faceobliquely with respect to the first base; and a second linking portionthat links the pair of second protrusionsto each other in a protruding side. Like the first contact portion, the second contact portionhas a spring property. The second contact portionis elastically deformed by being pressed by the circuit board.

The pair of first protrusionsincluded in the first contact portionof the common contacthas a shape in which a spacing, closer to the first linking portion, between the first protrusionsis greater than a spacing, closer to the first base, between the first protrusions. In other words, a maximum distance dcloser to the first linking portionis greater than a maximum distance dcloser to the first base. In an embodiment, the maximum distance is continuously increased with being closer from dto d. Like such a case, the pair of second protrusionsincluded in the second contact portionhas a shape in which the spacing d, closer to the second linking portion, between the second protrusionsis greater than the spacing d, closer to the first base, between the second protrusions. In other words, a maximum distance dcloser to the first linking portionis greater than a maximum distance dcloser to the first base. In an embodiment, the maximum distance is continuously increased with being closer from dto d. In such an embodiment, d=dand d=d. However, dand ddo not necessarily satisfy d=d, and dand ddo not necessarily satisfy d=din other embodiments.

A distance between the contact and an adjacent contact is decreased to improve electric performance by making a shape in which the distance between the pair of first protrusionsis increased with being closer to the first linking portion, and a shape in which the distance between the pair of second protrusionsis increased with being closer to the second linking portion, as described above.

show a power contact. The power contactconnects the pad for a power source of the electronic componentand the power source on the circuit boardto each other. The power contactcorresponds to an example of the second contact according to the invention. The power contactincludes a second base, a third contact portion, and a fourth contact portion.

Like the first baseof the common contactillustrated in, the second baseis inserted into each of the contact supporting holesand interlocking with the inner wall of each of the contact supporting holesto allow the power contactto be supported by the housing. The second baseincludes cut portionsseparated from a carrier. When the power contactis inserted into each of the contact supporting holes, the power contactis separated from the carrier in a state in which both the right and left sides of the second baseare retained by a jig, and inserted into each of the contact supporting holesby pressing both the right and left sides of the second basewith the jig.

The third contact portioncontacts the pad for a power source of the electronic component. The third contact portion, as shown in, includes a pair of two-divided third protrusionsprotruding from an edge, closer to the first face(see), of the second basetoward the first faceobliquely with respect to the second base. The pair of third protrusionscomes into contact with the pad for a power source of the electronic componentwhile remaining being divided into two portions. The third contact portionhas a spring property, and is elastically deformed by being pressed by the electronic component.

The fourth contact portioncontacts the power source on the circuit board. The fourth contact portion, as shown in, includes a pair of two-divided fourth protrusionsprotruding from an edge, closer to the second face(see), of the second basetoward the second faceobliquely with respect to the second base. The pair of fourth protrusionscomes into contact with the power source on the circuit boardwhile remaining being divided into two portions. The fourth contact portionalso has a spring property, and is elastically deformed by being pressed by the circuit board.

The power contactcomes into contact with the electronic component and the circuit board while remaining being divided into two portions, whereby a parallel circuit is formed to reduce electrical resistance.

show a signal contact.shows a signal contact pair. The signal contactsare included in the contact pair including the pair of signal contacts,which are bilaterally plane-symmetric with respect to a face S, as illustrated in.illustrate one signal contactincluded in the contact pair. This signal contactis a contact, of which the shape is different from the shapes of both of the common contactand power contactdescribed above, is included in the contact pair as illustrated in, and carries out signal transmission between the electronic componentand the circuit board. The signal contactcorresponds to an example of the third contact according to the invention.

The signal contactincludes a third base, a fifth contact portion, and a sixth contact portion, as illustrated in. Like the first baseof the common contactillustrated inand the second baseof the power contactillustrated in, the third baseis inserted into each of the contact supporting holes, interlocking with the inner wall of each of the contact supporting holes, and allowing the signal contactto be supported by the housing. The third baseincludes a cut portionseparated from a carrier. When the signal contactis inserted into each of the contact supporting holes, the signal contactis inserted into each of the contact supporting holesby separating the third basefrom a carrier in a state in which the third baseis retained with a jig, and pressing the third basewith the jig.

As shown in, the fifth contact portionincludes: a pair of two-divided fifth protrusionsprotruding from an edge, closer to the first face(see), of the third basetoward the first faceobliquely with respect to the third base; and a third linking portionthat links the pair of fifth protrusionsto each other in a protruding side. The fifth contact portioncomes into contact with the pad for signal transmission of the electronic component, and is thus elastically deformed.

As shown in, the sixth contact portionincludes a sixth protrusionprotruding from an edge, closer to the second face(see), of the second basetoward the second faceobliquely with respect to the third base, comes into contact with a signal transmission path on the circuit board, and is thus elastically deformed.

Whereas the fifth contact portionincludes the pair of fifth protrusions, only the one sixth protrusionis included in the sixth contact portion. When the signal contactis inserted into one of the contact supporting holes, the central portion of the third basein the width direction of the edgecloser to the circuit boardis pressed with the jig. This is because it is impossible to press the central portion in the width direction of the edgewhen the sixth contact portionis allowed to have a shape similar to the shape of the fifth contact portion. However, the sixth contact portionhaving the shape applies a minute twist to the sixth protrusionwhen the sixth contact portioncomes into contact with the circuit boardand is thus elastically deformed. Thus, the twist is eliminated in an area closer to the electronic componentin which it is unnecessary to provide space for the jig, as a configuration having the pair of fifth protrusions.

When the signal contactsare regarded as the contact pair illustrated in, the fifth contact portionsand the sixth contact portionsare formed at positions at which the fifth contact portionsof the two signal contactsincluded in the contact pair are closer to each other in the width direction of the third bases. Moreover, the fifth contact portionsextend from the third baseswhile keeping a first definite spacing. In other words, spacings Cand Dillustrated inare equal to each other, and satisfy C=D. The sixth contact portionsalso extend from the third baseswhile keeping a second definite spacing. In other words, spacings Cand Dillustrated inare equal to each other, and satisfy C=D. In the present embodiment, C=Cand D=Dare further satisfied. In the present embodiment, electrical characteristics are improved by allowing the two signal contactsincluded in the contact pair to have such a shape.

andshow the housing.illustrates the greatly enlarged bottom plateof the housingillustrated in, a slight part of the bottom plate, and a small number of contact supporting holes. In such a case, the slight part of the bottom plateis referred to as “housing” again.

In such a case, the 8×8 contact supporting holesare arranged in the flat-plate-shaped housing. The contact supporting holeshave the same shape and the same dimension, and are formed with definite pitches. A table portionor, on which a housing portionorhousing a portion of each contact, protruding from the housing, elastically deformed by pressing the portion of each contact, protruding from the housing, by the electronic componentor the circuit board, in correspondence with each contact supporting holeis put, is disposed on the periphery of each contact supporting hole. The first faceof the housingis illustrated in. As illustrated in, the second faceof the housingalso has a similar structure. The housing portionand the table portioncloser to the first facecorrespond to respective examples of the first housing portion and the first table portion according to the invention, and the housing portionand the table portioncloser to the second facecorrespond to respective examples of the second housing portion and the second table portion according to the invention. The housing portionsandcorresponding to the contact supporting holes, and the table portionsandare disposed on both faces of the housing, whereby the electronic componentcan be directly placed on the housing, and the housingcan be directly placed on the circuit board.

is a view illustrating various contacts arranged with pitches with which the contacts are inserted into the housing. When common contactsare placed adjacently to each other, the spacing between the first contact portionsof the common contactsadjacent to each other is a spacing D, and the spacing between the second contact portionsis a spacing D. In an embodiment, the spacing D=spacing D. Moreover, the spacing between the fifth contact portionsof the signal contactsincluded in the contact pair is the spacing Das also illustrated in, the spacing between the sixth contact portionsis the spacing D, and in an embodiment spacing D=spacing D. All of the spacings Dto Dare less than a spacing Dbetween the first contact portionof the common contactand the fifth contact portionof the signal contactand a spacing Dbetween the second contact portionof the common contactand the sixth contact portionof the signal contactwhen the common contactand the signal contactare adjacent to each other. As a result, electrical coupling between the common contactsand electrical coupling between the signal contactsare enhanced.

As shown in, each of the widths of the bases of the contacts adjacent to each other is always a definite width W regardless of the kinds of the contacts adjacent to each other. In other words, all the widths of the bases which are the first base, the second base, and the third baseare the same. Therefore, the formation of the contact supporting holeshaving the same dimension in the housingenables any contacts to be inserted into any contact supporting holesregardless of the kinds of the contacts, and enables the inserted contact to be supported by each contact supporting holeeven when any kind of the contact is inserted into each contact supporting hole.

is a view illustrating various contacts and a cross section of the housing. The cross section of the housing, illustrated inis the same cross section as the cross section illustrated in. In, the various contacts are arranged with the same pitches as the pitches of the contact supporting holes.

In the example described in such a case, two common contacts, two signal contactsforming a contact pair, two common contacts, and two power contactsare inserted, in the order mentioned from the contact supporting holewhich is left in the view, into the eight contact supporting holesforming a line.

As illustrated in, any kinds of the contacts can be inserted into any contact supporting holes. As a result, plural kinds of contacts can be placed at optional positions, and a socket ready for each of various electronic components can be assembled without newly redesigning the housing and the contacts.

illustrate the housingand contacts in the state of being inserted into the housing.is an isometric view illustrating the housingand the contacts in the state of being inserted into the housing. As illustrated in, common contacts, power contacts, and signal contactsare inserted into the housingin such a case.

Moreover, the bottom face of the electronic componentin the state of coming into contact with the housingand the upper face of the circuit boardin the state of coming into contact with the housingare illustrated in the. The contacts protrude from both the faces of the housingregardless of the kinds of the contacts.

The protruding portions are pressed by the electronic componentor the circuit board, are thus elastically deformed, and are housed in the housing portionsand(see). Moreover, the electronic componentand the circuit boardare pressed against the table portionsand

As described above, the socketof the present embodiment is allowed to be a socket having a structure with a high degree of freedom suitable for a larger number of pins by preparing the plural kinds of the contacts suitable for applications and allowing the contact supporting holesto have the same shape.

The case in which the common contactis used for a ground is described in the present embodiment. However, the common contactis not limited to the common contact for a ground, but can be used for a power source or for signal transmission.

The socketof the present embodiment includes all of the contact pairs including the common contact, the power contact, and the plane-symmetric signal contacts. However, the fundamental feature of the present invention is the shape of the common contact. Accordingly, the power contactand the signal contactsneed not be included as long as the common contactis included. Alternatively, it is acceptable that the common contactis included, and either the power contactor the signal contactsare included. Further, a contact having a shape other than the shapes of the power contactand the signal contactsmay be included.

The socket of the invention includes the first contact having the shape described above. Since the first contact has the shape, a distance between the first contact and an adjacent contact is decreased. As a result, electrical performance is improved, the socket can be used in a wide range of applications such as transmission of various signals, grounds, and power sources, and the socket for mounting various electronic components can be assembled. In accordance with the invention as described above, a socket having a structure suitable for a larger number of pins is provided.

The contact pair including the third contacts having such a structure enables the third base to be pressed and inserted while decreasing a distance between the two third contacts included in the contact pair to improve electrical performance. The third contacts exhibit an advantage when high-speed signal transmission is required, wherein it is difficult to carry out such high-speed signal transmission by the first contact.